CBF-NC growth continues

By Steve DeVane

BR Managing Editor

Gail Coulter, right, outgoing CBF-NC moderator, talks with Greg Rogers, the incoming moderator.

Photo by Steve DeVane

Biblical Recorder

The Cooperative Baptist Fellowship of North Carolina (CBF-NC) budget topped the $1 million mark for the first time as contributions to the 14-year old organization continue to increase.

CBF-NC held its annual General Assembly April 11-12 at Forest Hills Baptist Church in Raleigh. The group adopted a 2008-2009 budget of $1.09 million, a 19 percent increase over the previous year's $915,000.

Gail Coulter, who recently announced her retirement as pastor of Providence Baptist Church in Hendersonville, moderated the business portion session and said the ministries highlighted in the printed program "are celebrations of God's work in our midst."

Coulter said the organization has seen phenomenal growth in its Mission Resource Plan, a cooperative budget which lets churches support CBF, CBF-NC and N.C. Baptist ministries with a single check, and in undesignated giving. Undesignated giving was up 21 percent through the first 11 months of the 2007-2008 fiscal year, while designated giving was up 74 percent during that time.

"God continues a beckoning call to this movement," Coulter said.

Julie Pennington-Russell, pastor of First Baptist Church in Decatur, Ga., preached at both worship services and said Acts 1:6-9 shows a Christian's whole life should be devoted to God.

"Jesus never said, 'You shall do some witnessing,'" she said. "Jesus said, 'You shall be my witnesses.'"

Followers of Jesus should be people of action, Pennington-Russell said.

"That's our whole story," she said. "God showed up."

Pennington-Russell said Jesus "rolled up his sleeves and did stuff" with people.

"Jesus acted on His love," she said.

"If you want your life to be used, the living God will use you as you are today," Pennington-Russell said. "If you offer your life as an instrument, you'll be used in more ways that you can know, but you have to offer your life."